July 31, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1359 

IN RECOGNITION OF DAVID 

BOSTON 

HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize David Boston, a talented and respected builder from Crossroads, Texas. After 

many years of private custom home building, 

and ten years of employment with the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mr. 

Boston is retiring. 

Mr. Boston was a sought-after custom home 

builder in Denton for many years. After retiring 

from that profession, he accepted a part-time 

position with FEMA in 2002. Four years later 

in 2006, Mr. Boston accepted a full-time position with the agency. He served as a National 

Hazard Mitigation Specialist where he investigated properties that were damaged by disasters like Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. In 

his tenure at FEMA, he investigated over 

46,000 sites. 

Due to his prior experience building private 

homes, Mr. Boston was able to deal favorably 

with sub-contractors. Because of this advantage, he saved FEMA and American taxpayers 

nearly $25 million. In addition to his commitment and dedication to FEMA, Mr. Boston was 

always equally dedicated to the home owners 

and businesses with whom he worked. 

Mr. Boston retired in May, 2012 after ten 

years of service. Upon his retirement, he will 

serve as a Republican precinct chair beginning in August of 2012. As Mr. Boston retires 

from a long and dedicated career, I would like 

to recognize his accomplishment and service, 

as well as congratulate him on a job well 

done. His experience and skills are evident to 

all he worked with. It is an honor to have the 

opportunity to recognize and represent Mr. 

Boston in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

f 

RETIREMENT OF MAJOR GENERAL 

GINA FARRISEE 

HON. BRETT GUTHRIE OF KENTUCKY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to 

recognize the dedication and selfless service 

of Major General Gina Farrisee, who will culminate her 34-year Army career as the Commanding General of Human Resources Command in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. 

As a Member of Congress, a Kentuckian, 

and a former Army Officer, it is an honor to 

recognize Major General Farrisee today before 

the United States House of Representatives. 

She is a native of Virginia, a 1978 graduate of 

the University of Richmond and the National 

Defense University in 1998. She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, 

serving her career as an Adjutant General Officer. 

Major General Farrisee’s career highlights 

include a variety of command and staff positions at Army installations around the world to 

include Germany, Ft. Bliss, TX; Ft. Lewis, WA; 

Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN; and Ft. Jackson, 

SC. During several key assignments in the 

Pentagon she worked for the Chief of Staff of 

the Army, the Assistant Secretary of Defense 

for Force Management Policy and four years 

as the Army’s Director of Military Personnel 

Management. Her highly successful command 

assignments included battalion command at 

Ft. Lewis, brigade command at Ft. Benjamin 

Harrison and the Army’s Soldier Support Institute at Ft. Jackson. Most recently, Major General Farrisee headed Army Human Resources 

Command, at Ft. Knox in my district. Her selfless service, professionalism and expertise 

were highlighted while assigned as the 61st 

Adjutant General of the Army. 

Throughout her service, Major General 

Farrisee has been a shining example for our 

Nation. It has been my pleasure to highlight 

Major General Farrisee’s long and decorated 

career today. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I 

join my colleagues today in commending and 

thanking Major General Farrisee for a lifetime 

of service during peace and wartime to her 

country. Her sacrifices and contributions will 

be forever remembered in the Soldiers and 

families she mentored and inspired. Those 

same Soldiers will miss her leadership, technical competence, mentorship and enthusiasm, as well as her daily inspiration—‘‘It’s a 

Great Day to be a soldier. . . . Hooah!’’ 

For all she and her family have given to our 

country, we are in debt. We wish her and her 

husband David, all the best as they continue 

their journey. 

f 

INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION IN 

SUPPORT OF THE XIX INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE 

HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise today to introduce a resolution in support 

of the XIX International AIDS Conference 

(AIDS 2012), which takes place from July 22, 

2012, through July 27, 2012, at the Walter E. 

Washington Convention Center in Washington, 

DC. AIDS 2012 is organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS) and brings together more than 20,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries, including 2,000 journalists. 

My resolution supports a stronger international 

response to HIV/AIDS that seeks to prevent 

the transmission of HIV, increase access to 

testing, treatment, and care, improve health 

outcomes for all people living with HIV/AIDS, 

foster greater scientific and programmatic collaborations around the world to end HIV/AIDS, 

and protect the rights of people living with 

HIV/AIDS. 

According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, there are approximately 33.4 million people living with HIV 

worldwide, and nearly 30 million people have 

died of AIDS since the first cases were reported in 1981. The United States is heavily 

engaged in both international and domestic efforts to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic, including the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the 

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and 

Malaria. Taxpayers in the United States have 

paid more than $45 billion through PEPFAR 

and the Global Fund, which have enjoyed 

broad bipartisan support in Congress. 

Since 1985, the now biennial International 

AIDS Conference has brought together leading scientists, public health experts, policymakers, community leaders, and individuals 

living with HIV/AIDS from around the world to 

enhance the global response to HIV/AIDS, 

evaluate recent scientific developments, share 

knowledge, and facilitate a collective strategy 

to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. AIDS 2012 

is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen the 

role of the United States in global HIV/AIDS 

initiatives within the context of significant global economic challenges, reenergize the response to the domestic epidemic, and focus 

particular attention on the devastating impact 

of HIV/AIDS that continues in the United 

States. 

The theme of AIDS 2012, ‘‘Turning the Tide 

Together,’’ embodies the promise and urgency 

of utilizing recent scientific advances in HIV/ 

AIDS treatment and biomedical prevention, 

continuing research for an HIV vaccine and 

cure, and increasing effective, evidence-based 

interventions in key settings to change the 

course of the HIV/AIDS crisis. AIDS 2012 

seeks to engage governments, non-governmental organizations, policymakers, the scientific community, the private sector, civil society, faith-based organizations, the media, and 

people living with HIV/AIDS to more effectively 

address regional, national, and local responses to HIV/AIDS around the world and 

overcome barriers that limit access to preventative care, treatment, and other services. 

My resolution supports the goal of bringing 

renewed awareness of, and commitment to, 

addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United 

States and abroad. In particular, it recognizes 

that formulating sound public health policy, 

protecting human rights, addressing the needs 

of women and girls, directing effective programming toward the populations at the highest risk of infection, ensuring accountability, 

and combating stigma, poverty, and other social challenges related to HIV/AIDS are key to 

overcoming HIV/AIDS. It also encourages the 

ongoing development of innovative therapies 

and advances in clinical treatment for HIV/ 

AIDS in the public and private sectors. 

Mr. Speaker, 25 years after the III International AIDS Conference was held in Washington, DC, we are now at a point where we 

have the tools necessary to prevent the 

spread of HIV and bring an end to the crisis. 

Now is the time to commit. HIV/AIDS is not a 

partisan issue. But it will take a bipartisan effort to overcome HIV/AIDS as a nation once 

and for all. Continued commitment by the 

United States to HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and treatment programs is crucial to protecting global health. I urge my colleagues to 

support my resolution, which recognizes the 

importance of the XIX International AIDS Conference in the global effort to end the HIV/ 

AIDS pandemic and create an ‘‘AIDS-free 

generation.’’ 

f 

DAVID HERMAN 

HON. ED PERLMUTTER OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to recognize and applaud David Herman 

for his service to our community. 

David Herman, a native of Wheat Ridge, 

Colorado, is a world-class BMX rider and a 


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